Page 58 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

Glancing at my watch, I have five more minutes before the online meeting with the Syndicate. While I had planned everything down to the minor details, so that in the end, I could have the woman and the Council under my thumb, I disregarded the consequences.

With the four men who lead the Syndicate, it’s better to have them as friends than foes.

Going back on your word means death. They can try, but they will fail too.

Many have tried before, and I am sure many will follow, but I won’t be taken down that easily.

What they will realize is that it’s on Kieran for misconstruing my words.

When I entered an alliance with them, I told Kieran I want Luciana.

My answer to why was simply, “She stole something from me.” With all of us being known for killing the people that betray us, he thought I’d torture and kill her.

I could sooner kill myself than her, but it was a precarious situation that escalated when she shot Cato and he survived. That motherfucker is a stubborn man.

I don’t know what I hope to get out of the meeting.

They will be pissed off either way. Cato will surely fume about letting the woman who almost killed him and threatened his wife live.

Kieran will be mad that he didn’t ask for specifics when we made the deal.

The other two might balance things out. Cameron is into looking at the bigger picture and Hayden and I have had no beef.

The recent addition to the former known trio of hell has been a ghost for years, amassing power of his own.

Uniting their forces has made the Syndicate an even more formidable organization.

Thinking of my fiancée hijacks my thoughts. Calla is out with my sister and mother, shopping for a wedding dress. In a few days, we’ll be officially married, and I can finally claim this woman for life.

Coming for her would mean coming for me. If our love demands payment in blood, I will shed it and relish in killing off whoever dares to try taking her from me.

Sitting at the desk in my home office, I log in and when the encrypted video call begins, I realize how they have perfected their seating alignment—a straight line, to show their allies what happens if you betray them. I saw two live hits not long ago.

“Enzo,” Kieran starts, and I swear his deep stare bores into you as if he wants to know your darkest, deepest secrets. He hates surprises, and I am sure this one will shock the guy who is known to be on top of his game.

Next to him is Cato, who already looks bored and waves my way to speak. I refrain from scoffing at him, not even opening his mouth.

Cameron cocks his head. “Something tells me this will be interesting.”

Behind the charming facade hides a veritable monster who loves chaos so he can tidy it up.

And then there’s Hayden. His somber attitude and stony stare show he’s not someone you want to mess with.

Oh, how I will mess it all up. In our world, a bit of power play keeps the excitement alive.

“I am getting married,” I say, barely suppressing my amusement at them frowning, exchanging a silent conversation.

“Are you inviting us to the happy event?” Kieran asks as we tiptoe around about who the lucky bride will be.

Cato’s jaw twitches, the strained muscle revealing he’s on to who that is.

“It’s a family affair.”

Silence follows as we stare each other down. They want me to tell them already so they can make a swift decision about retribution.

“It’s Luciana.” Why drag the inevitable out?

Cato opens his mouth when Kieran cuts him off by saying, “I understand the hurry to get married then.”

The threat is veiled but just as real as a missile hitting the intended target.

“So your revenge was what exactly?” Cameron asks while Cato glares at me. I half expect him to teleport himself here and slice my neck.

“None of your business.”

“What are you hoping to gain with this revelation of yours?” asks Hayden in business mode. This guy keeps me guessing and I don’t fucking like that.

“I wanted to inform you,” I say matter-of-factly.

“Send Luciana to us and we’ll forget about your indiscretion,” Kieran demands.

He values our friendship and our alliance by giving me a way out. My power is unparalleled on the West Coast. Losing me would hinder their chances of having their fingers on it.

I crack my neck. The thought alone unleashes a wave of fury. Inhaling deeply, I grasp for control, trying to salvage the precarious situation.

“I won’t do that.”

“You staged a coup and pushed us out. What do you think we should do about not one but two betrayals?” Cameron asks, the monster slowly rising. While he appears to be the more levelheaded among them, something tells me it’s the other three who hold him at bay.

“The Council was never yours to begin with. I simply took back what was mine.”

Kieran’s jaw clenches so hard it’s obvious he fights to keep his composure. “You used us to get what you wanted.”

“In exchange, I gave you what you wanted. I don’t seek war, but if that’s the only way to solve our issue, so be it.”

Three of them are married. I know from recent experience that you want to postpone this type of war that ends up with too much loss and blood on both sides.

“That is up to us,” says Cato low enough the connection might freeze.

Right then, Calla enters and her radiant smile falters when she hears his voice.

All I can think of is seeing her in white, walking down the aisle to me.

If we have a long or short life, it’s secondary.

All that matters is being with her—experiencing it all together.

That doesn’t mean I won’t fight for even a second longer with her.

She has an unsure look on her face. My woman is a fucking queen and if the men in our world have a problem with that, they can go fuck themselves.

I gesture for her to approach, and she drops into my lap, immediately putting on a mask. “Hello, Cato. I see you’re well.”

He shoots up and slams both fists on the table.

She glances at her manicured fingers before giving him an annoyed look. “No need for that overreaction. You’re alive.”

“And you’ll be fucking dead.”

“Don’t fucking threaten my woman,” I snap.

She places the hand wearing the engagement ring on my chest, giving me a warm gaze before she turns her icy glare to him. “Your wife did what no one in our world could. Put a bullet through me. When I aim to kill, I don’t miss. I don’t hesitate. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”

Cato’s face reddens with fury.

“You call shooting him three fucking times is you not wanting to kill him?” Kieran asks, incredulity thick in his voice, anger stretching in the corner of his eyes.

The tension escalates with every second.

“I gave you a fair shot at surviving. My other targets didn’t have that luxury,” she says in a neutral voice, shrugging.

“Luciana, blood is paid in blood in our world,” Hayden says matter-of-factly.

“I go by Calla now. I am not that woman anymore. And I paid in blood and I paid in years of my life. Some wounds are less obvious than others.”

An understanding passes between them, and she says, “New players rise every day. We can start a war that will be a long and excruciating one or we can forget and move on.”

“Without trust?” Kieran snickers.

I pin them each with an intent look. “You only trust each other. So let’s stop this pretend bullshit.”

They exchange a glance before muting me and having a conversation. Then Kieran says, “Betrayal is betrayal and spilled blood demands blood. If we make exceptions, the word will get out.”

“How much?” It’s all about power. And fuck if I am not willing to pay it. The sigh my woman lets out feels like a spike stabbing my chest. I never want her to think she’s my damnation.

“You don’t have that much,” Cato grumbles.

“Don’t make me come for you because this time, it won’t end well,” Calla warns, determination dripping from her haughty tone.

“You’re out,” Kieran says and disconnects the line.

Fuck. That is like a double-edged sword, either side cuts.

“They didn’t say it’s war directly.” I try to diffuse the heavy situation while she remains silent, appearing deep in thought, so I insist, “We don’t need them. We simply won’t go into their territory, and they better stay out of ours.”

Wanting this whole subject done and over, I brush my knuckles along her cheek, and she leans into my touch. Without a single doubt, she’s worth everything.

“I love you, amore mio. Together or not at all.”

“Together or not at all,” she whispers, and the cloud lifts from her face.

“I found the dress,” she says, excitement ringing in her voice.

An appreciative sound rumbles in my throat. “I know I will love it, but I will love it even more when I get to undress you.”

She slaps my chest playfully. By now she is well aware of my insatiable appetite for her. Right when I am about to give in to my urges, Kill pokes his head inside the office and launches himself straight at her. She gets on her knees and immediately pats him, cooing at him.

“Cockblocker,” I mumble to him while the asshole gets on his belly for her.

“You missed me? I’ve missed you too. And look what I got you.”

She talks to him as if he were human. I chuckle, remembering how she would stay feet apart from him when she first saw him. And now he’s taking a lot of her attention. Serves me right. Worst idea I had.

I follow them to the kitchen, where she gives him a new treat. She studies which ones he likes the most. Every time she’s in town, she brings him some, even though the pantry is full.

Then we go outside, taking turns throwing a ball for him.

Pulling her to my chest, I rest my chin on her shoulder as I lock my arms around her belly. It’s a beautiful fall day, the sun high in the sky but not as scorching as in summer.

“I never thought we’d come so far,” she says in a meek, almost incredulous tone. I remain perfectly still, so she’ll continue. When it comes to the past and everything that’s happened, she needs a moment to gather her thoughts.